Clive Featherby's fireworks at Cotton Tree.
Clive Featherby's fireworks at Cotton Tree. KCFireworks

Demand for funeral fireworks explodes

DON'T say it with flowers. Say it with fireworks.

Clive Featherby is taking his fireworks displays into a whole new era, making them fit for any occasion - even funerals.

And demand for the final send-off is growing.

Mr Featherby said he does about "one funeral a month” where he places a person's ashes into a firework and fires them off into the sky for one big blast.

1.5km HIGH: Clive Featherby is gearing up to launch the biggest firework seen in Queensland for 15 years.
1.5km HIGH: Clive Featherby is gearing up to launch the biggest firework seen in Queensland for 15 years. John McCutcheon

He has been travelling all over the country with his "funeral celebration fireworks”.

"At KC's Fireworks Displays, we understand that funerals are a trying time,” his website advises.

"However, these days, funerals are becoming more of a celebration of a life well lived and of their successes and legacy left behind. Funerals are always going to be a sad time, but it's important that we provide a fitting send-off for those we love.”

And he advises a "great way to celebrate a loved one's life” is to have their ashes mixed into our firework mortars by his experienced fireworks experts.

"We can spread the ashes across a range of fireworks or load them into one big rocket, allowing for a solemn and memorable celebration with a beautiful explosion of colour,” it reads.

"We can arrange to send your loved one's ashes into the night sky, scattered across the ocean or river, or wherever your family chooses as their special place.

"Or maybe you just want a beautifully designed fireworks display to add some wonder and magic to an otherwise difficult day?”

Mr Featherby said the ashes were given to him and were taken to the southern factory and "reassemble aerial fireworks with the actual ashes in the fireworks”.

Clive Featherby preparing to load ashes into a firework.
Clive Featherby preparing to load ashes into a firework. KC Fireworks

"Then the family members will normally gather somewhere for a farewell evening gathering and we do a lovely little fireworks send off and finish with the deceased family members ashes fireworks shells that burst in beautiful colourful fireworks shells,” he said.

Mr Featherby has also started KC Fireworks "Wedding Fireworks & Special Effects” as a new part of the business he has been running on the Sunshine Coast and around the world for more than three decades.

Instead of bending down on one knee with those four magic words "will you marry me”, you can have them emblazoned across the sky.

"You can take your girlfriend for a walk on the beach and then he can tell his girlfriend to look in a certain direction and I'll send of a firework of a red heart.

Show heart with a firework.
Show heart with a firework. KC Fireworks

"Then I'll send off a 'will you marry me” firework.”

But you'd better be prepared to budget to add spark to your love life.

Fireworks display times range from two to 10 minutes and standard packages start from $1950, plus GST. This includes all permits and insurances

Not all displays have to be noisy.

"I can do fireworks so that you won't hear anything even if you are next door,” Mr Featherby said.

KCFireworks fog machines allows couples to dance on a cloud.
KCFireworks fog machines allows couples to dance on a cloud. KCFireworks

Some special effects can even be done indoors and he has "special dry ice fog machines” to make brides feel like they are walking on a cloud.

Mr Featherby said fireworks weren't "all about noise”.

”A lot of the time it's purely just wonderful effects and colour such as at Noosa Springs and Spicers at Maleny where we do completely silent fireworks at the request of the property owners and yes they still look great,” he said.

"All our fireworks are fully biodegradable and KCs operates under a full Approved Environmental policy.”

KCs has conducted fireworks shows in 15 countries around the world and was behind last month's spectacular Summer Sky display at Cotton Tree.


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